“Are you glad you did? How long have you been at your current post?” Her mind started racing. Did that mean he’d be looking for other positions? Would she lose her sister after all?
He nodded. “I love it here. I have no intention of going anywhere.”
She wondered if he had read her fears. She hoped not, because having a husband who knew when she was afraid would be downright frightening. She didn’t want anyone to have that sort of power over her. “I’m glad. I believe I’d like to stay in close proximity to my sister.”
“I take it the two of you are close?”
Coral shrugged, not quite certain how to answer that. “We’ve always looked out for one another.” The truth was that they’d never been particularly close. They were too different. Esther had always been a fashion plate, interested in only the latest dress and whom she would marry. Coral’s mind wasn’t given to frivolous things like that.
Jackson read between the lines, understanding that the sisters hadn’t been close. How odd that Coral was determined to stay near her sister then. “Tell me about your parents.”
Coral debated simply telling him the story she’d believed when she was young but decided he deserved the full truth before they married. “Esther and I are half-sisters. I’m the daughter of our father’s mistress. We’re less than a year apart. When my father told my mother that I was on the way, she agreed to pretend to be pregnant, and then she raised me as if I was her own.”
Jackson raised an eyebrow at that. “She did? There was no resentment or favoritism?”
“I’m sure there was some, but not so anyone on the outside would notice. After my birth, Mother became a bit of a recluse. She didn’t go out and do all the fun things she’d done leading up to my arrival. She wasn’t willing to admit she’d been thwarted by her own husband.”
“So she was cruel to you?”
“Never! She was kind, the same as she was to Esther. She just—well, Esther got more of her attention. She had her approval. It was always clear that no one was very interested in me. I was the not-as-pretty, not-as-slim, not-as-socially-acceptable younger sister, who was a slight embarrassment to the family.” She shrugged. “I helped them out by spending most of my time with my nose buried in a book, and then they didn’t have to acknowledge me. I made friends with the servants and learned to cook. I really learned anything anyone was willing to teach me.”
“I admire that.” Jackson was surprised to realize he did. The girl beside him was slightly frightening with as much as she knew about everything around her, but she was also a marvel, in her own way. She was obviously highly intelligent, and no matter that she’d been born into less-than-ideal circumstances, she was a bold, confident woman.
“Do you really? Or does it make you uncomfortable?”
“Why would it make me uncomfortable?”
She shrugged. “I have no earthly idea. It makes everyone else uncomfortable though. People look at me as if I’m some sort of oddity, and they don’t quite know what to say or do around me. Like I’m some sort of super-human, and everything I do is because it’s easy, and not hard work.”
“And it’s not easy?”
She frowned. “I wouldn’t go so far to say that. I do learn things, and become good at things, much faster and easier than other people do. But that doesn’t make me any less human. When I see something is going to be difficult for me, I give it everything I have. I work twice as hard, so that I can be as good. People don’t see that, though. They just see someone who excels at everything.”
He nodded. “I can understand that.” He was slightly surprised by her words, because it was just how he felt about almost everything. “I do much of the same thing.”
“You do?” She turned to him, barely able to make out his features in the pre-dawn darkness.
“Of course I do.” She didn’t think he’d lie about something so small, did she? They would have to build trust between them if they were to ever get along.
She smiled. “I’m glad to hear we have something in common then. Maybe this one small thing will grow to something more.”
He smiled at that, transferring the reins into his left hand, and moving his right hand to cover hers in her lap. “I certainly hope so. I would hate for the two of us to be forced to live together for the next fifty years with no feelings between us.”
“That would truly be a tragic life to live, wouldn’t it?” She shook her head. She couldn’t imagine living the rest of her life with no love. She’d already lived the first part of it with no one finding her special or good enough. She needed to have someone who thought she was wonderful. Someone who would call her dear, and hold her hand when the situation called for it. “I think I’m glad you’re the one who I’m going to marry, Jackson.”
He jerked, staring down at her. “You are?” He’d never expected to hear any sort of kindness from her lips.
She nodded. “There’s something about you that I think I can spend the rest of my life being happy with. I hope so anyway.”
He squeezed the hand he still held. “I’ll do my best to make you happy, Coral. I make no promises, because I’m inept at everything where women are concerned, but I do think you’re special. We’ll make a good team.”
“I do believe we will. I have a feeling you won’t mind if I spend time pouring over the medical treatises I have, and that will be a good start.”
He laughed. “As long as you promise to use anything you learn on me should I become ill.”
“Oh, there’s no doubt. I shall endeavor to keep you very healthy.” She smiled as she stared straight ahead into the darkness. The man beside her wasn’t nearly as difficult as she’d thought he would be. Why, he was downright pleasant now that they’d spent a bit more time together. Maybe the future wasn’t as bleak as she’d imagined it would be.
Chapter Three
It was almost eight that night when they arrived in Sweetwater Springs, and Jackson drove straight to the preacher’s house. “I don’t want us to spend a night alone together until we’ve been officially married.”
Coral agreed, not wanting anything to possibly mar her reputation in her new home. Her legs were cramped as she allowed him to help her down from the buggy, and it was all she could do not to cry out. They’d only made necessary stops along the way, preferring to eat as they drove. “I think that’s for the best.”
Jackson knew how hard it was for his legs to support him after their long journey, so he watched her face carefully for any sign of pain, but she showed nothing. “Have you met Pastor and Mrs. Norton yet?”
“Yes, I met them when Esther and I arrived in town. He married Brody and Esther.”
“Oh, of course. I didn’t think of that.” Jackson took hold of her elbow, still worried she might fall after the long drive in cramped quarters. “I hope he’s willing to perform our ceremony this late.”
“Me too.” Coral didn’t know what she’d do if he said he wouldn’t marry them so late at night. She couldn’t ask Jackson to pay for an extra room for her, and she wouldn’t feel right spending a night in the same room with him before they married.
When Mrs. Norton opened the door, she stared at them blankly for a moment, and then she smiled. “Coral, isn’t it?”
“Yes, ma’am. I’m here to get married myself this time.”
Mrs. Norton smiled, opening the door wide. “The pastor is still working on his sermon for tomorrow, but he won’t mind the interruption. Please have a seat.” She hurried from the room, presumably to get her husband.
Coral walked around the small parlor, trying to get her legs to work correctly again.
Jackson watched her and understood what she was doing immediately. “I’m sorry we have to push so hard to get home by Sunday night.”
She stopped her pacing and shook her head. “No, there’s nothing to be sorry for. We’re doing what we need to do. If we had to, we could start driving back tonight.”
He walked to her taking her hand in his. “Life w
on’t always be hard,” he promised.
She shrugged. “From what I can see, it is.” And it had been for her. Maybe it would be easier now that they were married, but she didn’t see how it could be. They’d just be two people working side by side, not a couple who found comfort in one another’s presence. Not like Esther and Brody. She felt her eyes sting, as if tears wanted to fall, but she fought them back. No, she wasn’t going to cry in front of him. Or anyone else for that matter.
Jackson watched her uncertainly. “It won’t be any more.” He hoped it was true. He could see that together they could do wonderful things. If only she would stop being so strong for everyone.
The pastor and Mrs. Norton came back into the room then. “So, you two want to be married, do you?”
Jackson nodded. “I’m not sure if you remember me, sir?”
“Oh, but I do! You visited my church a couple of times before you left for your little country school. Have you set up your own congregation there as you were hoping to do?”
“Not yet, but I plan to do it soon. Right now I’m still getting used to being in the classroom.” He waved his hand toward Coral. “I understand you’ve already met my bride?”
Pastor Norton nodded. “She was here recently with her older sister. It’s good to see you again. I’m sorry, but I’ve forgotten your name.”
“I’m not exactly memorable,” Coral said, trying to get her red curls back into the pins that kept them atop her head. “I’m Coral.”
“Are you two ready to start?”
Coral looked down at herself, wishing she’d changed as soon as they got there. She didn’t feel like she could now, because she didn’t want to keep everyone waiting. “Yessir. I’m ready.”
Jackson nodded, moving over to stand beside his bride. “Let’s get it done.”
Coral wrinkled her nose at his less than romantic words, but really, what did she expect? They were marrying for reasons other than love, and she had no right to expect him to act as if it was any other way.
She paid careful attention to the vows, agreeing to love, honor, and cherish him. She was relieved she hadn’t been asked to obey, because she’d have had to say no to that. She wasn’t obeying anyone as if she didn’t have a brain in her head to think for herself.
When Pastor Norton told Jackson to kiss her, she turned to Jackson, wondering what he’d do. He put his hands on her shoulders and pulled her to him, his lips coming down on hers gently.
Coral was surprised at the rush of feeling that went through her at the touch of Jackson’s lips on hers. She’d always assumed the one thing in life she’d be bad at was passion, but apparently her birth mother had left her something. She put her hands on his shoulders and kissed him back, a tingling starting at her spine and running down her body.
Jackson lifted his head, looking down into his bride’s face, stunned at her reaction to him. He’d expected her to be cold and unfeeling, but that was just the opposite of what she’d given him. Her eyes were half-closed, and her lips slightly parted. It was all he could do not to lean down and kiss her again.
He stepped back, clearing his throat, embarrassed all at once. He’d promised to wait two months before he consummated the marriage. It was going to be the longest two months of his life.
Coral opened her eyes fully to see Jackson staring at her as if she were a stranger. “I guess we’d better be on our way,” she mumbled, trying to cover just what his kiss had done to her.
Jackson shook himself out of his reverie. “Yes, of course. We have to find a place to stay for the night yet.” He turned and shook hands with the pastor, paying him for performing the ceremony.
The pastor looked at his wife and back at Jackson. “You know we don’t have a hotel in Sweetwater Springs, don’t you?”
Jackson nodded. “I was hoping for a boarding house or something.”
“Not that’ll take you at this time of night.” The pastor looked at Mrs. Norton. “How ‘bout it?”
Mrs. Norton nodded immediately. “We have a spare room. Of course you’ll stay!”
“Oh, but we couldn’t!” Coral protested. She’d seen the tiny little bed in that room when she’d been there with Esther. No, that wouldn’t work at all.
Jackson cleared his throat. “It’s that or sleep outside tonight.”
Coral’s shoulders sagged. He was right. They’d have to stay there. They could make it work. She nodded. “We’d be happy to accept your hospitality, Mrs. Norton.”
Jackson put his arm around her shoulders casually. “We’ll have to be up before the sun so we can get on the road, though.”
“Oh, I wish you had time to stay for church, but I understand. Have you eaten tonight? We have some supper left. I made a pot roast and mashed potatoes.”
Coral looked at Jackson, waiting for his response. Her stomach was growling, but she didn’t want to be the only one eating. She felt like they were asking too much just by staying there.
Jackson nodded. “We’d be much obliged, ma’am. We had sandwiches six hours ago while we drove.”
“Oh, you should have said something sooner.” Mrs. Norton hurried off to the kitchen to reheat the food.
Coral followed after her. “May I help?”
“Just set the table for the two of you, dear.”
Coral went to work setting the table while the older woman reheated the food. The smells that were coming from the stove made her even hungrier, and she wanted to insist it was too much work to heat things up. They’d just eat it cold. If she’d truly been worried about the work involved, she’d have done just that, but she knew she only wanted to eat sooner.
Ten minutes later, Coral and Jackson were sitting across from one another at the table in the Norton’s kitchen. The pastor and Mrs. Norton joined them, and the pastor was grinning from ear to ear. “Mrs. Norton doesn’t let me have a second dessert unless we have company eating here late. Tonight I get two pieces of her delicious pie.”
Mrs. Norton frowned at her husband. “Now you know you can always have another piece of pie if you want one.”
“But you won’t make me coffee to go with it if no one is here to help me drink it.”
Coral grinned at Jackson, taking in the banter of the older couple. She wondered if they too would be like that in forty or so years.
They ate quickly and retired to the tiny room Mrs. Norton gave them. Coral eyed the bed skeptically, but refused to worry about it.
Jackson frowned when he saw their bed for the night but waited until the door was closed before expressing his worry. “I’m not sure about that bed.”
Coral closed her eyes for a moment and then said, “I’ll sleep under the sheet, and you sleep over it. It will be fine. It’s not like we’re incapable of suppressing our baser urges.”
Jackson shrugged. “Are you sure you’ll be comfortable with that?”
She nodded. “Of course I will.” She looked at him. “Could you please turn your back while I put my nightgown on?”
He nodded, presenting his back immediately. He listened to the rustle of her clothing as she changed, wishing he could turn around and just watch. They were married after all. “Let me know when you’re finished.”
Coral hurried and slid between the sheets before saying anything. “I’m ready.”
Jackson was disappointed to find her in the bed with the sheets pulled up to her neck. “Now it’s your turn to turn your back.” Truthfully, he didn’t care if she saw him undressing or not, but he didn’t want to make her uncomfortable.
He slid into bed beside her, careful to keep as much distance between them as he could. He reached over and turned down the lamp before closing his eyes. “Goodnight, Coral.”
Coral sighed, wishing she had something witty to say to the man lying beside her—her new husband. “Goodnight, Jackson.” Her eyes were already drifting closed. They’d had such a long day after a sleepless night. How on earth could she be expected to carry on any kind of conversation with him?
Jac
kson stared at the ceiling, not sure if he wanted her to say something else or go straight to sleep. On one hand, if she said something else, she’d probably insist that he kiss her again. She was a bossy little thing. On the other, if she asked him to kiss her again, well—then he could kiss her again. He had just opened his mouth to suggest to her that he should kiss her goodnight, now that they were married, when he heard her even breathing.
He looked over at her, and sure enough, she was sound asleep beside him. It had been a long day. He closed his eyes as well, determined to leave for home as early as they could the following morning. It was going to be another long, long day. Alone. With his new wife.
Chapter Four
By the time Jackson pulled into the yard of his small home the following evening, both he and Coral were exhausted. “I’ll fix something to eat,” she said, getting down from the wagon while he went to unhitch the horses and put them up.
“Just something easy.”
Coral nodded and went into the house, her new home, for the first time. She was surprised at how tiny the place was. She wanted to cry when she saw how little space she’d have to live in, but she shook her head, refusing to get upset. Instead, she pulled her apron from her bag and put it on, pinned her hair back up, and rolled up her sleeves.
The house wasn’t filthy, but neither was it clean. She’d have a few days of backbreaking work to get it to the point where she felt it should be. She did the few dishes in the sink before rummaging around for food. She found some fresh eggs and some bacon, so she immediately whipped up scrambled eggs with small chunks of bacon in it. It wasn’t fancy, but she was too tired to do anything more than that.
When Jackson came into the house, he hung his hat on a hook by the door, and took off his jacket. It was only September, but it was already getting a bit nippy in the evenings. “That smells good.”
Montana Sky: Mail Order Marvel (Kindle Worlds Novella) Page 2